Suspect Wanted on Several Warrants Arrested

LAKE ELSINORE – A transient wanted on several warrants was arrested by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies in the Lake Elsinore area a day after a deputy shot and killed a pit bull and accidentally wounded a sheriff’s dog while searching for the suspect, authorities said today.

Shawn Redding, 35, was arrested about 9 a.m. Saturday and was booked on the warrants — for possession of a controlled substance, assault and battery, and petty theft — and on suspicion of resisting arrest, said Riverside County sheriff’s

Deputy Albert Martinez. He was being held on $25,000 bail, and was scheduled to appear in court at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center Wednesday.

Redding was arrested about 10 p.m. Friday by a deputy in Lakeland Village, but he broke free and ran into an open field, Martinez said.

A search was conducted that included a sheriff’s canine handler and his canine partner, ”Tessa,” Martinez said.

”While searching a residential yard, a large pit bull jumped out of an open window and attacked Tessa,” Martinez said.

”Another deputy who was searching with the canine handler fired his firearm at the pit bull, which halted the attack and caused a fatal wound to the attacking dog,” Martinez said. ”Unfortunately, one of the rounds struck Tessa in the right paw.”

Tessa was treated at a veterinarian’s office and later released, Martinez said.